Integrated electronic shopping cart system and method

ABSTRACT

Integrated shopping cart functionality is provided on a first website so that products/services from different affiliated websites can be integrated into the shopping cart at the first website and the e-commerce functionality of the first website can be utilized to purchase the selected products/services. A framework for integrating this functionality enables the first website to integrate with affiliated websites so that an increased number of users may access the first website since the proprietor of the first website may offer various products/services from a multitude of different affiliated websites, for example by providing URL links to the affiliated websites that a user may access in order to select items from the affiliated websites. These items can be integrated into the shopping cart at the first website and purchased with a single transaction. Increased user traffic is expected at the first website since a user&#39;s shopping interests can be fulfilled at a single website. Additionally, affiliated websites are benefited by this integrated shopping cart functionality since the e-commerce functionality of the integrated shopping cart is performed by a server that is associated with the first website. Therefore, affiliated websites need not include their own e-commerce functionality. Instead, they may take advantage of the e-commerce functionality of the first website and still receive the benefits of the sale of their offered products/services to the user. Maintenance costs and overhead costs with respect to including an e-commerce software engine are therefore reduced and often eliminated as a result.

[0001] The present invention relates to an online shopping system for auser to order and purchase items and more particularly to a system andmethod for providing an electronic shopping system having an integratedshopping cart functionality.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] As the Internet is becoming more commercially oriented, productand service providers are exploring new ways to promote and sell a widerange of their products and services. Such efforts to date havegenerally taken the form of a vendor (or vendor company) establishing awebsite on a machine (computer or server) connected to the Internet.

[0003] The websites generally have a product display and purchasefunctionality integrated therein. A website is, in general terms, aserver application running on a computer which accepts connections fromclient programs. Client programs, such as browsers, allow a remote userto access the information stored on the website. The information caninclude a broad range of multimedia data including textual, graphical,audio, and animation information. A common client application is in theform of a web browser, which, via mouse, keyboard or command line input,allows a user to access and “navigate” around the website.

[0004] Internet-based retail has become extremely popular over the lastseveral years. Both business-to-business and business-to-consumer retailchannels have benefited from the advances made in e-commerce technology,enhanced transaction security and improved data bandwidth.

[0005] Online retailing can be traced through three generations ofcommerce-enabling software. Initially, simple HTML forms were utilizedby retail websites to facilitate online transactions between users andthe proprietor of a website. Users were free to indicate their orders onthese HTML forms. However, the forms were generally only suitable forindicating a few items of interest. When more than a few items wereindicated, the HTML forms became difficult to manage and inefficient,since the order form was separate (on a different HTML form page) fromthe item description.

[0006] The next generation in online retailing involved “shopping cart”software. An electronic shopping cart is simply a computer softwareprogram that operates as an online retail website's catalog and orderingprocess. Typically, the shopping cart functions as the interface betweenthe website and the user, allowing users to select merchandise, reviewthe merchandise that has been selected, make any modifications oradditions to the selected merchandise and purchase the selectedmerchandise. Shopping cart software is similar to a physical shoppingcart, such as that commonly found in a grocery store, in the sense thatselected items for purchase may be commonly grouped together in theshopping cart and purchased with a single transaction. In an onlineenvironment, a user can select an item of interest for purchase as theuser browses through a website and can choose to “place” the selecteditem in the shopping cart. The software remembers the selected itemsduring the user's browsing and even maintains a running total of thepurchase price.

[0007] However, while electronic shopping carts are useful and haveresulted in increasing the simplicity of online retailing, conventionalshopping cart software is limited as an electronic commerce tool. Thislimitation resulted in the development of the third generation of onlineretailing software, “storefront” or “store building” software. Websitesconstructed with this software include conventional shopping cartfunctionality and also allow the website proprietor to add, delete, ortemporarily hide products on the website, change product prices, set upsales and promotions, provide secure transaction features, manipulategraphics, and integrate the online operations with existing physicalaccounting and inventory systems.

[0008] Regardless of the generation of e-commerce software implementedon a website, information about the products and services offered at aparticular website is generally maintained in an online database usuallyresident in the server that maintains the website. The database maycontain fields such as product name, SKU (stockkeeping unit, anidentification of a particular product that allows it to be tracked forinventory purposes), descriptive text, price, weight (to calculateshipping), and the electronic file name of an item photograph or otheridentification information of an item.

[0009] Since a website is often navigated by more than a single user atany given time, a different shopping cart is associated with each user.For example, a cookie file (small computer file) that contains a user'sshopping cart identification information, such as shopping cart number,may be transmitted to the user's own Web browser software resident onthe user's computer system and may remain stored on the user's harddrive during the entire visit at the website (and may even remain storedon the user's hard drive after the user leaves the website or terminatesan Internet session). Cookies are therefore an efficient tool formaintaining the association between the user and the shopping cart andare implemented by most e-commerce software.

[0010] Alternatively, e-commerce software programs may utilize atemporary Internet Protocol (IP) number, that is automatically assignedto a user by the user's ISP (Internet Service Provider) when the userlogs onto the Internet, as an identifier to associate a particularshopping cart with a user. Also, a randomly generated shopping cartnumber may be appended to the URL (Universal Resource Locator) appearingin the “Location” or “Address” field of the user's browser software. Insuch case, whenever the user navigates to a different product page ofthe website, the cart number, being appended to the URL, effectively“follows” the consumer through the site.

[0011] Regardless of the particular software program utilized,integrated shopping carts are highly desirable electronic commercesoftware applications. Using an integrated shopping cart allows a userto select items from a number of different websites, collect the itemsin a single integrated shopping cart and purchase the items with asingle transaction. While highly desirable, integrated shopping cartshave been difficult to implement.

[0012] Therefore, universal shopping carts have typically becomepopularized. One such universal shopping cart is available from BuyWizSoftware. Using BuyWiz's universal shopping cart, users can collectitems from various online stores and save the selected items in a singleshopping cart that resides on the user's personal computer instead ofbeing integrated with a particular website. The cart's contents can beviewed, either on-line or off-line, and the user can receive sales orprice change notifications, and purchase some or all of the items via asingle click using a single central registration form.

[0013] The BuyWiz shopping cart works in conjunction with a shoppingserver/service offered by BuyWiz Software. When a user browses aBuyWiz-supported merchant website and arrives at a purchase page of thewebsite, such as a webpage that contains an action for adding an item tothe shopping cart, the BuyWiz “shopping bag” automatically appears onthe user's display. FIG. 1 is a sample screenshot of the BuyWiz shoppingbag 10. Using an input device of the computer, such as initiating asingle click of the mouse, the user can select an item to be “placed” inthe shopping bag 10 where it appears with all of the other items in theshopping bag 10.

[0014] If the selected item is from a merchant that is supported byBuyWiz Software, the user can choose to purchase the item and the BuyWizserver fills in the requisite registration forms with the user's fixedinformation, such as name and address and credit card information. Oncean item is “placed” in the shopping bag, the BuyWiz server continuallymonitors that item's pricing on the merchant website, posting any pricechanges directly to the shopping bag display interface. Since BuyWiz'sshopping bag is an independent software program that remains resident ona user's computer and the participating websites can support itsfunctionality, the shopping bag is not integrated into the e-commercefunctionality of those websites. As such, BuyWiz's shopping bag softwareincorporates its own e-commerce functionality in order to processproduct and service orders thereby adding complexity and overhead to thesoftware. In effect, any commercial transactions are handled by thewebsite from which the product or service was selected. Thus, theuniversal shopping cart does not eliminate the need for e-commercefunctionality to be a part of the websites.

[0015] Other solutions to providing a universal e-commerce shoppingexperience have been proposed. One such solution is proposed in U.S.Pat. No. 5,895,454, that issued Apr. 20, 1999, to Harrington (herein the“'454 patent”). The '454 patent discloses a method of effecting commercein a networked computer environment. A database of vendor product dataand an associated database interface that allows remote access by one ormore users is established. A local user interacts with the database byquerying the database to specify a local user's product/servicespecification (a search request to locate a particular product orservice of interest). In response to the query, the database providesthe local user with a selection of remote vendor network websites. Afterthe local user interactively connects with one or more of the remotevendor network sites, the user selects products/services from theinformation provided on the remote vendor network website. The selectionof a particular product/service triggers a transaction notificationwhich records the user's selection and associated financial transactiondata which is transmitted to the database and associated databaseinterface. During, or at the conclusion of, a local user's shoppingsession, the user confirms the selection(s) whereby the database andassociated database interface transmits purchase/order data to theremote vendor sites corresponding to the user's selection.

[0016] The '454 patent proposes to establish a “virtual shopping mall”of affiliated member vendor websites so that a user can peruse thevarious products and services offered from the vendors at a singlelocation. For example, affiliated member vendor websites may establishan electronic list (including images and textual description, etc.) ofproducts/services offered for purchase and provide the electronic listto a database administrator so that a product/service database can bemaintained including the products/services indicated in the electroniclist from the vendor websites. A user can search the database to locatedesired items and select desired items from a website for purchase.Accordingly, each product/service selected from a particular vendorwebsite can only be purchased through that first website using thee-commerce functionality of that first website. Other products andservices from other vendor websites cannot be purchased through thefirst website. In order to purchase a different product or service fromanother vendor website, the user must access that second vendor websiteand purchase the item through the second website, using the e-commercefunctionality of the second website.

[0017] Thus, while the '454 patent provides an efficient “windowshopping” aspect to e-commerce, it does not address the inefficienciesresulting from causing a user to conduct multiple purchases at differentwebsites instead of allowing the user to select from multiple vendoritems and aggregate the selected items into a single integrated shoppingcart so that the selected items can be purchased in a singletransaction.

[0018] Unfortunately, electronic shopping carts have been predominantlylocalized to distinct websites. They have not been implemented tofunction across different websites. As such, electronic commerce isstifled, because the user cannot commonly gather all of the desiredproducts and services across any website in an integrated shopping cartand purchase all of the selected items with a single transaction.Instead users are generally forced to conduct separate transactions ateach website, each having their own electronic shopping cart in whichusers can “place” and purchase selected items from that website. It isdesirable, then, to provide an integrated shopping cart that can beimplemented across any website. It is to this end that the presentinvention is directed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0019] In accordance with the invention, integrated shopping cartfunctionality is provided on a first website so that products/servicesfrom different affiliated websites can be integrated into the shoppingcart at the first website and the e-commerce functionality of the firstwebsite can be utilized to purchase the selected products/services.

[0020] Advantageously, the first website is benefited by this integratedshopping cart functionality in that an increased number of users mayaccess the first website since the proprietor of the first website mayoffer various products/services from a multitude of different affiliatedwebsites, for example by providing URL links to the affiliated websitesthat a user may access in order to select items from the affiliatedwebsites. These items can be integrated into the shopping cart at thefirst website and purchased with a single transaction. Increased usertraffic is expected at the first website since a user's shoppinginterests can be fulfilled at a single website.

[0021] Additionally, affiliated websites are benefited by thisintegrated shopping cart functionality since the e-commercefunctionality of the integrated shopping cart is performed by a serverthat is associated with the first website. Therefore, affiliatedwebsites need not include their own e-commerce functionality. Instead,they may take advantage of the e-commerce functionality of the firstwebsite and still receive the benefits of the sale of their offeredproducts/services to the user. Maintenance costs and overhead costs withrespect to including an e-commerce software engine are therefore reducedand often eliminated as a result.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022]FIG. 1 is a sample screenshot of an electronic shopping bagdisplay interface offered by BuyWiz;

[0023]FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of an integrated shopping cartsystem in accordance with the invention;

[0024]FIG. 3 is a block diagram representation of an integrated shoppingcart software module in accordance with the invention;

[0025]FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative block diagram embodiment of anintegrated shopping cart software module in accordance with theinvention;

[0026]FIG. 5 is an example of a screenshot of a user interface for atoolkit testing software module in accordance with the invention;

[0027]FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of an electronic printing systemthat may be implemented as a part of the integrated shopping cart systemof FIG. 2;

[0028]FIG. 7 shows an example of a screen shot of a user interface thatmay be displayed to a user upon the user accessing the electronicprinting system of FIG. 5;

[0029]FIG. 8A is a graphical representation of a default design templatethat a user may customize and modify to create a desired design;

[0030]FIG. 8B illustrates an example of a design file that may becreated by the electronic printing system in accordance with the changesthat the user may make to the default design template shown in FIG. 8A;

[0031]FIG. 8C shows an associated graphical representation of the designfile of FIG. 8B that may be displayed to a user in real-time to reflectmodifications to a default design file;

[0032]FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the operation flow of theelectronic printing system shown in FIG. 6 when a user initiates a localdesign function;

[0033]FIG. 10 illustrates the operational flow of the process server ofthe electronic printing system shown in FIG. 6;

[0034]FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating the process flow of theintegrated shopping cart system in accordance with the invention;

[0035]FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the operation flow of theorder fulfillment of an uploaded data file in accordance with theinvention; and

[0036]FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of theintegrated shopping cart system in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0037]FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of an integrated shopping cartsystem 30 in accordance with the invention. The system 30 may include afirst server 31 (website) connected with one or more clients 32 across awide area network (WAN) 33, such as the Internet, or more particularly,the World Wide Web. The first server 31 may contain one or more piecesof software code 34 that may be stored on the first server 31 and may beexecuted by a microprocessor 35 in the first server 31 in order tooperate as the integrated shopping cart system 30 of the invention. TheInternet 33 permits the first server 31, when accessed by an individualclient 32, to display a web page on the client computer system 32 whichpermits the client 32 to interact with the first server 31.

[0038] The client computer system 32 may include a display device 36, achassis 37, and one or more user input devices, such as a mouse 38 and akeyboard 39. The chassis 37 may house a permanent storage system 40,such as a hard disk drive, optical disk drive, tape drive, or the like,which may store one or more software applications such as a web browserapplication. The client computer system may have a memory 41 residenttherein and the software application from the disk 40 may be transferredto the memory 41 to be executed by a CPU 42 in the computer system. Thebrowser application may be configured to connect the client 32 to thefirst server 31 over the WAN 33 and receive graphical information (webpages) that may be displayed on the display device 36 to the user. Thebrowser application may also permit the client 32 to interact with thefirst server 31 such as by selecting a particular product or servicefrom the first server 31 for purchase or by allowing a user to accessadditional affiliated websites and their associated servers 3 In, suchas by the user selecting an associated URL link on the first website.

[0039] In accordance with the invention, the first server 31 may beassociated with a first vendor website and may be in communication witha multitude of additional affiliated servers 3 in, the additionalservers 31 n being associated with particular vendor websites.Alternatively, a multitude of vendor websites may be provided on asingle server 31. A user may, while accessing a particular website,select products and/or services for purchase from that website, as willbe described in more detail herein, and also may “navigate” among theadditional servers 31 n to access an affiliated website in order toselect products and/or services for purchase from one of the affiliatedwebsites. In accordance with the invention, the integrated shopping cartsystem 30 allows the products and/or services selected by a user fromthe affiliated website(s) to be incorporated into an electronic shoppingcart at the first website so that the e-commerce functionality of thefirst website can be utilized by the affiliated websites.

[0040] In order to function as the integrated shopping cart system 30 ofthe invention, the first website server 31 and any affiliated websiteservers 31 n include an integrated shopping cart software module 50. Theintegrated shopping cart software module 50 will now be described withreference to particular software sub-modules which are shown in FIG. 3.

[0041] With reference to FIG. 3, the integrated shopping cart softwaremodule 50 may include a session initiation software sub-module 51 forinitiating a communication session between an affiliated website server31 n and the first website server 31. The session initiation sub-module51 allows the first website server 31 to transmit request information toan affiliated website server 31 n, such as passing website identifierinformation to the affiliated website server 31 n. The requestinformation may be transmitted according to known communicationprotocols, such as an HTTPS POST (encrypted) command, an HTTP POSTcommand, an HTTP GET command, an HTTPS GET (encrypted) command, or anyother similar command protocol.

[0042] In order for the affiliated website server 31 n to identify thefirst website server 31, a vendor identifier assigned to the firstwebsite server 31 is transmitted by the sub-module 51 to the affiliatedwebsite server 31 n. In accordance with the invention, a vendoridentifier can be assigned to each website to which the integratedshopping cart system 30 functionality is provided. The vendor identifiermay include a sequence of numbers, letters and special characters suchthat a vendor can be properly identified by the system. Additionally, aproduct identifier is transmitted by the software sub-module 51 to theaffiliated website server 31 n so that an associated product or servicecan be selected for purchase from the affiliated website. Optionally,one or more session identifiers may be transmitted by the softwaresub-module 51 so that communication sessions between the servers 31, 31n can be tracked and maintained, as well as a user identifier for aparticular vendor. The user identifier enables the system to determinewhether a user is logged onto a particular vendor's account managementsystem and redirect the user to the appropriate website if necessary.This may also be accomplished via cookie functionality.

[0043] The integrated shopping cart software module 50 may also includean add-to-cart software sub-module 52 for informing the first website ofan addition to the user's shopping cart. In accordance with theinvention, the add-to-cart software sub-module 52 may transmit selectedproduct/service information to the first website server 31 so that theselected product/service may be properly added to the user's shoppingcart at the first website.

[0044] A number of parameters may be transmitted by the sub-module 52 tothe first website server 31 so that the selected product/service can beproperly added to the shopping cart at the first website. For example,parameters include, but are not limited to, a reference parameter thatindicates a user's order, line item number that indicates a particularlocation in the shopping cart at which to add the item, quantity,weight, inventory number, line item description, total line item price,session identifier information, and user identifier information.

[0045] The reference parameter identifies a selected product or servicefrom an affiliated website to be added to the shopping cart at the firstwebsite. The line item parameter identifies a particular location in theshopping cart from which to add the selected product/serviceinformation. Quantity and weight parameters are self explanatory andidentify the quantity of the selected product/service and the weight ofthe selected item. The inventory number parameter is also selfexplanatory and allows a vendor's inventory information to be updatedand maintained. The line item description parameter associates anindicated textual string, graphic, or other identification informationwith the selected product/service so that the product/service in theshopping cart can be identified by the user. The total line item priceparameter indicates the total cost of the selected product or service(generally a function of quantity and weight and base price information)so that a proper shopping cart total can be calculated by the system 30.The information may be transmitted, for example, via HTTPS as an XMLmessage from the affiliated website server 31 n to the first websiteserver 31. Other transmission protocols, such as FTP, email, HTTP, andHTTPS (among others) could be used without departing from the invention.

[0046] The communication flow between the first website server 31 andthe affiliated website server 31 n is as follows. Upon a user selectinga product/service from an affiliated website to be added to the shoppingcart at the first website, the affiliated website server 31 n contactsthe first website server 31, such as via the HTTPS secure communicationprotocol. Upon connecting with the first website server 31, theaffiliated website server 31 n sends a message, such as an XML messagethat may include the parameter information indicated above, to the firstwebsite server 31. Upon receiving the message, the first website server31 may acknowledge receipt of the message and the user may be redirectedto a predetermined or dynamic URL on the first website server 31 so thatthe user can return to the first website in order to either performadditional selecting of items from the first or other affiliatedwebsites or so that the user can conclude an order.

[0047] As described, the first website server 31 may acknowledge receiptof the message transmitted from the affiliated website 31 n. Theacknowledge message may be transmitted as an XML message, or any othercommunication format, from the first website server 31 to the affiliatedwebsite server 31 n and may include the reference parameter informationas well as status information, such as whether the selected item wassuccessfully added to the shopping cart at the first website.

[0048] The integrated shopping cart software module 50 may also includea modify-product-in-cart software sub-module 53 for informing anaffiliated website server 31 n of a request by the user at the firstwebsite to modify an item in the shopping cart at the first website. Therequest information may be transmitted by the first server 31 to theaffiliated website server 31 n according to known communicationprotocols, such as an HTTPS POST command. A number of parameters may betransmitted by the first server 31 to the affiliated website server 31 nso that the affiliated website server 31 n can identify theproduct/service in the shopping cart requested by the user to bemodified. For example, as described above, parameters may include avendor identifier, reference parameter, line item number and actioninformation (such as a modify an item request). Optionally, sessionidentifier information may be transmitted by the first server 31, aswell as a user identifier for a particular vendor. The modify softwaresub-module 53 may also be used to recall and modify a previouslyidentified order request or a previously saved work. For example, a useraccessing the affiliated website may initiate an order by choosing aparticular item to be added to the shopping cart, yet may leave thewebsite prior to fulfilling the order. In such a case, the previouslychosen items may be recalled and the order or saved work may be modifiedaccordingly.

[0049] The integrated shopping cart software module 50 may also includea create-another-item software sub-module 54 for informing theaffiliated website server 31 n of a request by the user at the firstwebsite to create another item for purchase. The request information maybe transmitted by the first server 31 to an affiliated website server 31n according to known communication protocols, such as an HTTPS POSTcommand. A number of parameters may be transmitted by the first server31 to the affiliated website server 31 n so that another item can becreated by the user from the affiliated website. For example, asdescribed above, parameters may include the vendor identifier, referenceparameter, product identifier, and action information (such as a selectanother item request). Optionally, session identifier information, lineitem number information, and a user identifier may be transmitted by thefirst server 31.

[0050] The integrated shopping cart software module 50 may also includean order fulfillment software sub-module 55 for informing the affiliatedwebsite server 31 n of a request by a user at the first website tofulfill the user's shopping cart order. The request information may betransmitted by the first server 31 to the affiliated website server 31 naccording to known communication protocols, such as HTTPS via an XMLmessage transmitted by the first server 31 to the affiliated websiteserver 31 n.

[0051] In order for the affiliated website server 31 n to fulfill auser's order, shipping information is transmitted by the first server 31to the affiliated website server 31 n. Shipping information may includeaddress and other contact information of the user, shipping companyinformation, and shipping method information. Additionally, otherparameter information, such as vendor identifier, reference parameterand line item information may be transmitted to the affiliate websiteserver 31 n so that the proper product/service can be identified by theaffiliate website server 31 n and shipped to the user, as well as vendorreference information. The information may be transmitted, for examplevia HTTPS as an XML message from the first website server 31 to theaffiliated website server 31 n. Other transmission protocols, such asFTP, e-mail, HTTP and HTTPS could be used without departing from theinvention.

[0052] The communication flow between the first website server 31 andthe affiliated website server 31 n, as shown in FIG. 2, is as follows.Upon a user selecting to fulfill a shopping cart order, the firstwebsite server 31 contacts the affiliated website server 31 n, such asvia the HTTPS communication protocol. Upon connecting with theaffiliated website server 31 n, the first website server 31 sends amessage, such as an XML message that may include the parameterinformation indicated above, to the affiliated website server 31 n. Uponreceiving the message, the affiliated website server 31 n mayacknowledge receipt of the message and the user's order may be fulfilledby the affiliated website server 31 n.

[0053] As described, the affiliate website server 31 n may acknowledgereceipt of the message transmitted from the first website server 31. Theacknowledge message may be transmitted as an XML message, or any othercommunication format, from the affiliate website server 31 n to thefirst website server 31 and may include reference parameter information,line item parameter information and status information, such as whetherthe order was fulfilled and the expected ship date of the order.

[0054] The integrated shopping cart software module 50 may also includea shipping price request software sub-module 56 for informing theaffiliated website server 31 n of a request by the first server 31 for ashipping price of a selected item so that a user may be charged acorrect price by the proprietor of the first website to fulfill a user'sshopping cart order. The request information may be transmitted by thefirst server 31 to the affiliated website server 31 n according to knowncommunication protocols, such as HTTPS via an XML message transmitted tothe affiliated website server 31 n. In order for the affiliated websiteserver 31 n to determine the shipping cost for a selected item, iteminformation and shipping information are transmitted to the affiliatedwebsite server 31 n. Shipping information may include address and othercontact information of the user, shipping company information, andshipping method information. Additionally, other parameter information,such as vendor identifier, reference parameter and line item informationmay be transmitted to the affiliate website server 31 n so that a propershipping price can be determined by the affiliated website server 31 n.The information may be transmitted as an XML message from the firstwebsite server 31 to the affiliated website server 31 n. Othertransmission protocols, such as FTP, e-mail, HTTP and HTTPS could beused without departing from the invention.

[0055] The communication flow between the first website server 31 andthe affiliated website server 31 n, as shown in FIG. 2, is as follows.Upon a user selecting to fulfill a shopping cart order, the firstwebsite server 31 contacts the affiliated website server 31 n, such asvia the HTTPS communication protocol. Upon connecting with theaffiliated website server 31 n, the first website server 31 sends amessage, such as an XML message that may include the parameterinformation indicated above, to the affiliated website server 31 n. Uponreceiving the message, the affiliated website server 31 n mayacknowledge receipt of the message and an accurate shipping costdetermination may be returned to the first website server 31 so that auser's order can be fulfilled.

[0056] As described, the affiliated website server 31 n may acknowledgereceipt of the message transmitted from the first website 31. Theacknowledge message may be transmitted as an XML message, or any othercommunication format, from the affiliated website server 31 n to thefirst website server 31 and may include reference parameter information,line item parameter information, status information, and shipping priceinformation so that a user's order can be accurately processed andfulfilled.

[0057] The integrated shopping cart software module 50 may also includea ship notification software sub-module 57 for informing the firstwebsite server 31 of the fulfillment of an order by the affiliatedwebsite server 31 n, thereby allowing the first website server 31 toprocess electronic payment of a user's order. The notificationinformation may be transmitted to the first website server 31 accordingto known communication protocols, such as HTTPS via an XML messagetransmitted to the first website server 31.

[0058] To notify the first website server 31 of shipping an order, theaffiliated website server 31 n may transmit parameter information to thefirst website server 31, such as line item information and referenceparameter information. Optionally, tracking information may betransmitted to the first website server 31 so that a user's order may betracked during shipping, and a vendor reference number may betransmitted to identify a vendor's order number for the item. Theinformation may be transmitted as an XML message from the affiliatewebsite server 31 n to the first website server 31. Other transmissionprotocols, such as FTP, e-mail, HTTP and HTTPS, could be used withoutdeparting from the invention.

[0059] The communication flow between the first website server 31 andthe affiliated website server 31 n, as shown in FIG. 2, is as follows.Upon the shipping of a selected item, the affiliated website server 31 ncontacts the first website server 31, such as via the HTTPScommunication protocol. Upon connecting with the first website server31, the affiliated website server 31 n sends a message, such as an XMLmessage that may include the parameter information indicated above, tothe first website server 31. Upon receiving the message, the firstwebsite server 31 may acknowledge receipt of the message.

[0060] As described, the first website server 31 may acknowledge receiptof the message transmitted from the affiliated website server 31 n. Theacknowledge message may be transmitted as an XML message, or any othercommunication format, from the first website server 31 to the affiliatedwebsite server 31 n and may include reference parameter information andline item parameter information.

[0061] The integrated shopping cart software module 50 may also includea reorder software sub-module 58 for informing the affiliated websiteserver 31 n of a request to add a previously ordered product from theaffiliated website to the user's current shopping cart order at thefirst website. The notification information may be transmitted to theaffiliated website server 31 n according to known communicationprotocols, such as an HTTPS request transmitted to the affiliatedwebsite server 31 n.

[0062] In order to request the recall of a previously ordered item fromthe affiliated website server 31 n, the first website server 31 maytransmit parameter information to the affiliated website server 31 n,such as vendor identifier, reference parameter, line item number, andaction information to be performed, such as the recalling of apreviously ordered item by the user. Optionally, session identifierinformation may be transmitted to the affiliated website server 31 n, aswell as vendor reference information.

[0063] The integrated shopping cart software module 50 may include anerror determination software sub-module 59 for managing errorinformation. The error information may be transmitted to the firstwebsite server 31 according to known communication protocols, such as anHTTPS request transmitted to the first website server 31.

[0064] In accordance with the invention, the first website server 31 maymaintain a list of error code information to notify a user of theoccurrence of an error during the selection, purchase or fulfillment ofa user's shopping cart order. Upon encountering an error, the affiliatedwebsite server 31 n transmits the error code information for an errortype to the first server 31. The first server 31 may then compare thereceived error code against the error list and inform the useraccordingly. Alternatively, the affiliated website server 31 n maymaintain its own list of error code information to notify a user of theoccurrence of an error during the selection, purchase or fulfillment ofa user's shopping cart order.

[0065] Additional software sub-modules may be incorporated into theintegrated shopping cart software module 50 to customize thefunctionality of the integrated shopping cart system 30 for a particularaffiliated website. Furthermore, additional embodiments of the inventionmay be provided that include various combinations of the sub-modulesdescribed above. Therefore, the integrated shopping cart functionalitycan be customized for every website in which it may be integrated.

[0066]FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the integratedshopping cart software module 50 shown in FIG. 3, in which like elementsare represented by like reference numbers and need not be explained. Theintegrated shopping cart software module 70 shown in FIG. 4 may includeadditional software sub-modules, or a combination of the softwaresub-modules described herein, in order to customize the functionality ofthe integrated shopping cart system 30 for a particular affiliatedwebsite, such as an affiliated website that allows a user to createcustom design items that may be printed on a wide array of media.

[0067] As shown in FIG. 4, the integrated shopping cart software module70 may include a view design request software sub-module 71 forinforming the affiliated website server 31 n of a request by a user atthe first website to view an image of a design item that may be or waspreviously created by the user at the affiliated website. The requestinformation may be transmitted by the first server 31 to the affiliatedwebsite server 31 n according to known communication protocols, such asan HTTPS command.

[0068] In order for the affiliated website server 31 n to identify arequested design item, parameter information is transmitted by the firstserver 31 to the affiliated website server 31 n. The parameterinformation may include vendor identifier, reference parameter, lineitem number and zoom factor information. The zoom factor parameterindicates a zoom factor used to display the requested design item imageto the user. Preferably, the zoom factor may be on the order of 0.1× to1× magnification, however, any zoom factor may be specified. Thecommunication flow between the first website server 31 and theaffiliated website server 31 n, shown in FIG. 2, is as follows. Upon auser requesting to view an image of a design item from the firstwebsite, the first website server 31 contacts the affiliated websiteserver 31 n, such as via the HTTPS communication protocol. Uponconnecting with the affiliated website server 31 n, the first websiteserver 31 transmits a message, that may include the parameterinformation indicated above, and may include the URL of the firstwebsite, to the affiliated website server 31 n. Upon receiving themessage, the affiliated website server 31 n may transmit an image of therequested line item to the first website server 31 that may be displayedto the user.

[0069] The integrated shopping cart software module 70 may also includea create another product software sub-module 73 for informing theaffiliated website server 31 n of a request by a user at the firstwebsite to create another custom designed item based on a present itemlocated in the shopping cart. The request information may be transmittedby the first server 31 to the affiliated website server 31 n accordingto known communication protocols, such as an HTTPS command.

[0070] In order for the affiliated website server 31 n to identify arequested design item, parameter information is transmitted by the firstserver 31 to the affiliated website server 31 n. The parameterinformation may include vendor identifier, reference parameter, productidentifier, line item number and session identifier information. Theproduct identifier information allows the affiliated server 31 n toidentify a particular product design item.

[0071] The communication flow between the first website server 31 andthe affiliated website server 31 n, shown in FIG. 2, is as follows. Upona user requesting to create another design item from the first website,the first website server 31 contacts the affiliated website server 31 n,such as via the HTTPS communication protocol. Upon connecting with theaffiliated website server 31 n, the first website server 31 transmits amessage, that may include the parameter information indicated above, tothe affiliated website server 31 n. Upon receiving the message, theaffiliated website server 31 n may implement a design tool interfacethereby allowing the user to create a custom design item and select thenewly created item to be placed in the shopping cart at the firstwebsite. Depending on whether the line item number information istransmitted to the affiliated server 31 n, the design tool interface mayinitiate a design item template based on the design format indicated bythe line item number information. Alternatively, the design toolinterface may initiate a design item template based, for example, on apreviously selected design item by the user.

[0072] The integrated shopping cart software module 70 may also includea save design request software sub-module 74 for informing the firstwebsite server 31 that a user has chosen to save a custom design item onthe affiliated website server 31 n. The request information may betransmitted by the first server 31 to the affiliated website server 31 naccording to known communication protocols, such as HTTPS via an XMLmessage.

[0073] In order for the affiliated website server 31 n to notify thefirst server 31 of a saved design item, the affiliated server 31 ntransmits parameter information to the first server 31. The parameterinformation may include reference parameter, line item number, line itemdescription information, user identifier information and sessionidentifier information. The first server 31 may acknowledge receipt ofthe notification by transmitting an acknowledgement message to theaffiliated server 31 n.

[0074] The communication flow between the affiliated website server 31 nand the first website server 31, shown in FIG. 2, is as follows. Upon auser requesting to save a custom design item on the affiliated server 31n, the affiliated website server 31 n contacts the first website server31, such as HTTPS as an XML message. Upon connecting with the firstwebsite server 31 n, the affiliated website server 31 n transmits amessage, that may include the parameter information indicated above, tothe first website server 31. Upon receiving the message, the firstwebsite server 31 may transmit an acknowledgement message back to theaffiliated website server 31 n. The acknowledgement message may includeparameter information such as reference number information, and statusinformation.

[0075] The integrated shopping cart software module 70 may include anorder placement request software sub-module 72 for informing theaffiliated website server 31 n of a request by a user at the firstwebsite to fulfill an order for an item that was not selected at theaffiliated website. For example, an order item may have been transmittedto the first server 31 by the user, such as from the user's own personalcomputer via a modem or other transmission means, or possibly selectedfrom another affiliated server 31 n by the user. The request informationmay be transmitted by the first server 31 to the affiliated websiteserver 31 n according to known communication protocols, such as HTTPSvia an XML message.

[0076] In order for the affiliated website server 31 n to identify arequested design item, parameter information is transmitted by the firstserver 31 to the affiliated website server 31 n. The parameterinformation may include vendor identifier, reference parameter, lineitem number and shipping information. The information may be transmittedas an XML message from the first website server 31 to the affiliatedwebsite server 31 n. Other transmission protocols, such as FTP, e-mail,HTTP and HTTPS, could be used without departing from the invention.

[0077] The communication flow between the first website server 31 andthe affiliated website server 31 n, shown in FIG. 2, is as follows. Upona user requesting to fulfill an order at the first website, the firstwebsite server 31 contacts the affiliated website server 31 n, such asvia the HTTPS communication protocol. Upon connecting with theaffiliated website server 31 n, the first website server 31 transmits amessage, that may include the parameter information indicated above, tothe affiliated website server 31 n. Upon receiving the message, theaffiliated website server 31 n may fulfill the order for the requestedline item and may acknowledge the order fulfillment to the first websiteserver 31 so that a user can be notified of the fulfillment of an order.

[0078] The integrated shopping cart software module 70 may also includea reorder fulfillment request software sub-module 75 for informing theaffiliated website server 31 n of a request by a user at the firstwebsite to fulfill a new order for a previously ordered item in theuser's shopping cart order. The request information may be transmittedby the first server 31 to the affiliated website server 31 n accordingto known communication protocols, such as HTTPS via an XML messagetransmitted by the first server 31 to the affiliated website server 31n.

[0079] In order for the affiliated website server 31 n to fulfill auser's order, shipping information is transmitted by the first server 31to the affiliated website server 31 n. Shipping information may includeaddress and other contact information of the user, shipping companyinformation, and shipping method information. Additionally, otherparameter information, such as vendor identifier, reference parameter,line item information and vendor reference information may betransmitted to the affiliate website server 31 n so that the properproduct/service can be identified by the affiliate website server 31 nand shipped to the user. The information may be transmitted as an XMLmessage from the first website server 31 to the affiliated websiteserver 31 n. Other transmission protocols, such as FTP, e-mail, HTTP andHTTPS could be used without departing from the invention.

[0080] The communication flow between the first website server 31 andthe affiliated website server 31 n, as shown in FIG. 2, is as follows.Upon a user selecting to fulfill a shopping cart order, the firstwebsite server 31 contacts the affiliated website server 31 n, such asvia the HTTPS communication protocol. Upon connecting with theaffiliated website server 31 n, the first website server 31 sends amessage, such as an XML message that may include the parameterinformation indicated above, to the affiliated website server 31 n. Uponreceiving the message, the affiliated website server 31 n mayacknowledge receipt of the message and the user's order may be fulfilledby the affiliated website server 31 n.

[0081] As described, the affiliate website server 31 n may acknowledgereceipt of the message transmitted from the first website server 31. Theacknowledge message may be transmitted as an XML message, or any othercommunication format, from the affiliate website server 31 n to thefirst website server 31 and may include reference parameter information,line item parameter information, vendor reference information, expectedship date, and status information, such as whether the order wasfulfilled.

[0082] Additionally, the user may elect to drop any order(s) in progressand start over with the ordering/selecting process anew. Accordingly, astart over message may be transmitted from the first website server 31,for example as a GET command via the HTTPS communication protocoloptionally passing a session identifier(s) for the affiliated website.This message effectively sends the user back to a partner website whenstarting the ordering/selecting process anew. Upon the occurrence of anerror during the ordering process using the invention, a user may alsobe redirected back to the affiliated website server 31 n. Generally, theredirection message passes a numeric code indicating the error typewhich caused the user to be redirected back to the affiliated websiteserver 31 n.

[0083] To ensure that each transaction between the first website server31 and an affiliated website server 31 n is authentic, the integratedshopping cart system 30 may utilize a two-tiered authentication scheme,however, alternative authentication methods may be used withoutdeparting from the invention.

[0084] In accordance with the invention, the two-tiered authenticationincludes vendor identifier authentication and IP-based filteringauthentication. For example, as described above, each vendor websiteserver 31 may be provided with a unique alpha-numeric code (vendoridentifier). The vendor identifier allows an affiliated website server31 n to properly identify a requesting server 31. In addition, to ensurethat all requests transmitted to an affiliated website server 31 noriginated from an authentic server 31, each request message may bevalidated by comparing the IP (Internet Protocol) address and/or a listof legal referrer addresses of the requesting server 31 against apredetermined list of authentic IP-addresses and/or legal referreraddresses. Accordingly, server requests originating from a non-authenticIP-address and/or referrers can be rejected by the system 30.

[0085] In order to implement the integrated shopping cart system 30, thefirst website server 31 is provided with a test software toolkit thatallows the first website server 31 to create and test integrationsoftware in a pre-production environment. When the first website server31 has successfully tested the integration software, the integratedshopping cart system 30 may be implemented. Each of the softwaresub-modules described above may have an associated test software toolkitmodule that allows the first website server 31 to test the integrationsoftware to ensure the operability of the integrated shopping cartsystem 30. Preferably, the software toolkit module may reside on theaffiliated website server 31 n and the first server 31 may access thesoftware toolkit module on the affiliated website server 31 n to testthe functionality of the integrated shopping cart system 30.

[0086] In accordance with the invention, the test software toolkit mayhave an interface mode and a non-interface mode. The interface modeallows the first website server 31 to access the software toolkit moduleon the affiliated website server 31 n via the Internet. Thenon-interface mode allows the first website server 31 to test its ownintegration computer code.

[0087] To ensure security of the system 30, the test environment may beprotected with a user ID/password combination to ensure that onlyauthorized users have access to the test environment. When testing viathe interface mode, preferably, the user ID/password need be supplied bythe first server 31 only once. When testing via the non-interface mode,the user ID/password may need be supplied by the first server 31multiple times. The software toolkit will now be described.

[0088]FIG. 5 is an example screenshot 79 of the software toolkit moduleinterface. Each of the software sub-modules may be tested via thisinterface. For example, an initiate session software sub-module of theintegration testing software toolkit module allows the first websiteserver 31 to test whether parameter information, such as vendoridentifier and product information (label information) are successfullytransmitted to the affiliated website server 31 n. The test informationmay be transmitted by the first website server 31 according to knowncommunication protocols, such as an HTTPS POST command.

[0089] Depending on whether the test information has been successfullytransmitted by the first website server 31, various status messages arereturned to the first website server 31 to inform the first websiteserver 31 of any errors in transmission. In the case of encountering anerror in transmission, the first website server 31 may correct anyindicated errors and retest the submodule.

[0090] An add-to-cart sub-module of the testing toolkit allows the firstwebsite server 31 to test whether parameter information, such as URLinformation, reference parameter, line item number, quantity, weight,inventory number, line item description, total line item price andsession ID information are successfully transmitted to the affiliatedwebsite server 31 n. The test information may be transmitted by thefirst website server 31 according to known communication protocols, suchas HTTPS via an XML message.

[0091] A modify-product-in-cart sub-module of the testing toolkit allowsthe first website server 31 to test whether parameter information, suchas vendor identifier, reference parameter and line item numberinformation are successfully transmitted to the affiliated websiteserver 31 n. The test information may be transmitted by the firstwebsite server 31 according to known communication protocols, such as anHTTPS POST command. Depending on whether the test information has beensuccessfully transmitted by the first website server 31, various statusmessages are returned to the first website server 31 to inform the firstwebsite server 31 of any errors in transmission. In the case ofencountering an error in transmission, the first website server 31 maycorrect any indicated errors and retest the sub-module.

[0092] A create-another-product sub-module of the testing toolkit allowsthe first website server 31 to test whether parameter information, suchas vendor identifier, reference parameter and line item numberinformation are successfully transmitted to the affiliated websiteserver 31 n. The test information may be transmitted by the firstwebsite server 31 according to known communication protocols, such as anHTTPS POST command. Depending on whether the test information has beensuccessfully transmitted by the first website server 31, various statusmessages are returned to the first website server 31 to inform the firstwebsite server 31 of any errors in transmission. In the case ofencountering an error in transmission, the first website server 31 maycorrect any indicated errors and retest the sub-module.

[0093] A reorder request sub-module of the testing toolkit allows thefirst website server 31 to test whether parameter information, such asvendor identifier, reference parameter and line item number informationare successfully transmitted to the affiliated website server 31 n. Thetest information may be transmitted by the first website server 31according to known communication protocols, such as an HTTPS POSTcommand.

[0094] A ship price request sub-module of the testing toolkit allows thefirst website server 31 to test whether parameter information, such asreference parameter and line item number information are successfullytransmitted to the affiliated website server 31 n. The test informationmay be transmitted by the first website server 31 according to knowncommunication protocols, such as an HTTPS POST command.

[0095] Depending on whether the test information has been successfullytransmitted by the first website server 31, various status messages arereturned to the first web site server 31 to inform the first websiteserver 31 of any errors in transmission. In the case of encountering anerror in transmission, the first website server 31 may correct anyindicated errors and retest the submodule.

[0096] Other software sub-modules may also be tested with theintegration testing software toolkit module in accordance with theinvention. For example, an order fulfillment request software sub-moduleof the testing toolkit allows the first website server 31 to testwhether parameter information, such as vendor identifier, referenceparameter, line item number, vendor reference information, and shippinginformation are successfully transmitted to the affiliated websiteserver 31 n. The test information may be transmitted by the firstwebsite server 31 according to known communication protocols, such asHTTPS via an XML message.

[0097] An order placement request software sub-module of the testingtoolkit allows the first website server 31 to test whether parameterinformation, such as vendor information, line item information,inventory information, quantity information, description information,and shipping information are successfully transmitted by the firstwebsite server 31 according to known communication protocols, such asHTTPS via an XML message.

[0098] A ship notification software sub-module of the testing toolkitallows the first website server 31 to test whether parameterinformation, such as URL information, reference parameter, vendorreference information, line item number and tracking number informationare successfully transmitted by the first website server 31 according toknown communication protocols, such as HTTPS via an XML message.Depending on whether the test information has been successfullytransmitted by the first website server 31, various status messages arereturned to the first website server 31 to inform the first websiteserver 31 of any errors in transmission. In the case of encountering anerror in transmission, the first website server 31 may correct anyindicated errors and retest the sub-module.

[0099] A view design software sub-module of the testing toolkit allowsthe first website server 31 to test whether parameter information, suchas vendor identifier information, reference parameter information, lineitem number and zoom factor information are successfully transmitted bythe first website server 31 according to known communication protocols,such as HTTPS via an XML message. Depending on whether the testinformation has been successfully transmitted by the first websiteserver 31, various status messages are returned to the first websiteserver 31 to inform the first website server 31 of any errors intransmission. In the case of encountering an error in transmission, thefirst website server 31 may correct any indicated errors and retest thesub-module.

[0100] A save design software sub-module of the testing toolkit allowsthe first website server 31 to test whether parameter information, suchas reference parameter information, line item number information, anddescription information are successfully transmitted by the firstwebsite server 31 according to known communication protocols, such asHTTPS via an XML message. Depending on whether the test information hasbeen successfully transmitted by the first website server 31, variousstatus messages are returned to the first website server 31 to informthe first website server 31 of any errors in transmission. In the caseof encountering an error in transmission, the first website server 31may correct any indicated errors and retest the submodule.

[0101] In order to illustrate the operation of the above describedintegrated shopping cart system 30, the system 30 will be described inthe context of a user accessing a first website, such as a businesssupply store vendor's website, via the Internet 33. The first websitemay provide URL links to a number of affiliated websites, one suchaffiliated website being a website that allows a user to create andmodify custom designs that may be printed on a variety of print media.

[0102] The affiliated websites and the first website together comprisean integrated shopping cart network. Within this network, the affiliatedwebsites include the integrated shopping cart functionality describedabove so that a user may access the affiliated websites in order toselect items for purchase. Upon selecting an item for purchase from anaffiliated website, the item may be “placed” into the user's shoppingcart at the first website and the user may continue to access otheraffiliated websites in order to select additional items for purchase.Upon concluding selection, the user may purchase each of the items inthe shopping cart at the first website using the e-commercefunctionality of the first website.

[0103] In describing the operation of the integrated shopping cartsystem 30 of the invention, the affiliated website server 31 n will bedescribed in the context of a plurality of servers, together comprisingan electronic printing system, such as that described in co-pending U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/568,644, entitled “Electronic PrintingSystem and Method, filed May 10, 2000, which is incorporated herein byreference. It should be noted however that the following description isintended merely for illustrative purposes and is not considered to belimiting. The integrated shopping cart system 30 can be implementedacross any website and its associated server architecture.

[0104]FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of an electronic printing system80, such as that described in the above-identified U.S. patentapplication. The electronic printing system 80 may include an affiliatedserver 31 n (that may be embodied as a server hub including a pluralityof servers as will be described herein) that may contain one or morepieces of software code 81 that may be stored on various servers 82 a-e,may be accessible to each server 82 a-e via the server hub 31 n, and maybe executed by microprocessors 83 in the servers 82 a-e in order tooperate as the electronic printing system 80. The individual servers 82a-e may include one or more web servers 82 a, one or more image servers82 b, one or more graphics servers 82 c, one or more process servers 82d, and one or more file servers 82 e. For simplicity, these servers 82a-e collectively represent an affiliated website server 31 n of theintegrated shopping cart system 30 in accordance with the invention.

[0105] The function and interrelationship of these servers 82 a-e willbe described in detail herein. While the system 80 is described hereinas a plurality of servers 82 a-e, it should be noted that the system 80is also capable of being embodied as a single server 31 n, havingsystems capable of performing as the electronic printing system 80 ofthe invention.

[0106] A database(s) 84 may include a large number of records, which maybe accessed by the various servers 82 a-e. For example, the database(s)84 may include records pertaining to user personal information, such asshipping information. The database(s) 84 may also include recordspertaining to user billing information, order histories, order status,pricing information, sales tax information, printer information andprinter attributes, such as which printer plant may be best utilized fora printing product based, in part, on user location. Additionally, thedatabase(s) 84 may include store attributes, product attributes,shipping carriers, options, and costs, and printer-specific information,such as ink colors and media type. It should be understood that thedatabase(s) 84 may include additional record information that has notbeen described here, and is not limited to the records set forth herein.

[0107] A user may access the electronic printing system 80, such as withthe user's browser software program and may create or edit electronicprinting templates in a database(s) 84 that may reside on the remoteservers 82 a-e. For example, in accessing the first website the user maybe provided with a URL link that will navigate the user to an affiliatedwebsite, such as one associated with the electronic printing system 80,when selected by the user.

[0108] When selecting the URL link at the first website that isassociated with the electronic printing system 80, the user may beelectronically transferred to a user interface screen of the electronicprinting system 80. FIG. 7 shows an example of a screen shot of the userinterface 90 screen that may be displayed to the user upon the useraccessing the electronic printing system 80.

[0109] The user may interact with the electronic printing system 80 viathe user interface 90. For example, the user may design a custom printorder via the user interface 90 by initiating a design request for acustom print design and submit the custom design for processing andprinting. Additionally, a user may modify the design, in which case thedesign change is automatically represented in the design files andconveyed graphically to the user, as will be described.

[0110] A custom print design may include custom print information, suchas graphical information, audio-visual information, image information,textual information, etc. Such information can be stored as binary dataor ASCII characters (the ASCII characters or binary data define textinformation and may also define generic file information).

[0111] Upon the user creating a custom print design, the electronicprinting system 80 may store the design information until an order isplaced. Every order may have an order file and one or more associateddesign files. The design files may describe the initial layout of aprint design and may reflect updates to the initial layout based uponthe custom design created by a user. The design files may also describenon-print items associated with the custom print information, such assecond sheets, etc.

[0112] An imaging engine (resident on an image server 82 b) may convertthe information in the design files into a graphic file for on-screenrepresentation and a process server 82 d may convert the design filesinto a “ready-to-print” output file that may be retrieved electronicallyby a remote printer facility. The output file may be formatted as animage file format, such as a raster file format or a vector file format.The image file format can be, for example, an EPS file format, a .JPGfile format, a .GIF file format, a .PDF file format, textual, or anyother such format.

[0113] The order file may contain user information and product data,such as a user's shipping address, pricing information, and the mediatype desired. When an order is submitted, such as by the user at thefirst website choosing to purchase a design item in the user's shoppingcart that the user created or modified using the electronic printingsystem 80, both the order file and the design files may be staged forconversion. These files may be converted to printer specific files andmay be sent to or retrieved by a local or remote printing facility andthe user's order may be carried out by the printing facility and may besent to the user when completed. Upon carrying out the user's order, inaccordance with the invention, the user may be notified that the user'sorder has shipped.

[0114] Upon the user selecting a desired product to design, a list ofpre-designed templates may be displayed to the user, from which the usermay select a default design template to begin customizing a print designorder. A graphical representation of a default design template 95 may bedisplayed to the user (FIG. 8A) that the user may then customize andmodify to create a desired design. It should be noted that a user is notbound to the selected product template. Product layouts may be changedat any time.

[0115]FIG. 8B illustrates an example of a design file 100 that may becreated by the electronic printing system 80 in accordance with thechanges that the user may make to the default design template such asshown in FIG. 8A. The design file 100 may be updated in real time toreflect the changes. Generally, every print item, such as a businesscard, a T-shirt, a mug, etc., has associated design files, per side,that describes the design layout. The design files may be structuredtextual document files that may describe the initial layout of thedesign item, the placement of objects in the design item, and attributesof those objects. As a user modifies a default design file for a printorder, for example by entering text, moving or coloring an object, newdesign files may be created by the system 80 to reflect themodifications to the default design layout which may then be sent to theimage server 82 b to create a new image that may be displayed to theuser reflecting the modifications.

[0116]FIG. 8C shows an associated graphical representation 102 of thedesign file 100 of FIG. 8B that may be displayed to a user in real-timeto reflect modifications to a default design file. In particular, theimage server 82 b may parse the textual information included in thedesign files and may return a graphical image 101 c (stored on thegraphics server 82 c) representative of the design described by thedesign files to be displayed to the user in real-time. The image server82 b may convert the textual information into a GIF graphic, or anyother graphic file, that may be a screen representation of the layout ofthe custom design. Therefore, a user may be able to immediatelyvisualize the changes and modifications that are made to a custom designbefore accepting the design.

[0117] Thus, in operation, upon a user accessing the electronic printingsystem 80, such as from the first website, the user may access a userinterface (shown in FIG. 7) provided by a web server 82 a. The userinterface may provide an interactive design tool to the user so that theuser may create a custom print design. The web server 82 a may beconfigured to retrieve the custom design information input by the userand may create and update design files accordingly.

[0118] When a user initiates a design function from the interface designtool, graphics information may be obtained from the graphics storagelocation (the graphics may be stored on the image server 82 b, the fileserver 82 e, or any server capable of storing image data) and may beconveyed to an image server 82 b so that the graphics information may beparsed into image files that may be displayed to a user, such as via theuser's browser software program, to reflect user modifications to aninitial design.

[0119]FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the operation flow of theelectronic printing system 80 (see FIG. 6) when a user initiates a localdesign function. A design tool interface 90 (see FIG. 7) may bedisplayed to the user through the browser interface (Step 110). A webserver 82 a (see FIG. 6) may open a default design file for a selecteddesign product and may initiate the creation of a new item in an order(Step 111). The design options that are presented to a user may bedependent on the design rules located in the database(s) 84. The webserver 82 a may update the design files to reflect a change made by theuser to the default design and may pass this information to the imageserver 82 b (Step 112), where the information may be parsed (Step 113)and rendered as an image file (Step 114) and returned to the web server82 a (Step 115) and downloaded by the user for display to the userthrough the user interface (Step 116).

[0120] The image server 82 b may include a graphics conversion programthat may parse textual information (from design files) into graphicalimages so that the web server 82 a may convey these graphical images tothe user through the browser interface 90 in real time. Thus, every timea user modifies a design by modifying design files, the web server 82 amay update the design information and pass that information to the imageserver 82 b. The image server 82 b may parse the textual information,render a graphical image reflecting the design update, and return thegraphical image to the web server 82 a so that it may be displayed tothe user through the browser interface. When the user is content withthe custom design, the user may accept the design, in which case thedesign item may be “placed” in the user's shopping cart at the firstwebsite, as described above. Upon the user completing a shopping order,the user may choose to purchase the design item, in which case thedesign order may be submitted to the electronic printing system 80 forprocessing.

[0121] Upon the user completing a shopping cart order at the firstwebsite and choosing to purchase the selected design item, printerspecific files for the design item may be generated by the electronicprinting system 80. These printer specific files may contain informationsuch as what printer to send the file to and inventory codes that may beprinter specific such as product, ink color, quantity, etc. Theelectronic printing system 80 may then stage the order (as printerspecific files, such as BEP and image files) so that the order may beretrieved electronically by a remote printing facility.

[0122] In order to convert the design files into an image file that maybe utilized by any remote printing facility (such as an encapsulatedpostscript file, EPS file), the design files are processed by theelectronic printing system 80. The process server 82 d (see FIG. 6) maybe configured to process orders received from the first website server31 and output files that may be retrieved by a remote printing facility.

[0123]FIG. 10 illustrates the operational flow of the process server 82d. Initially, the process server 82 d may retrieve an order that mayhave been submitted by the first server 31 and staged by the electronicprinting system 80 in a staging directory resident on a file server 82 eor resident in a database(s) 84. In retrieving the order, the processserver 82 d may access the staging directory or database(s) 84 andlocate a staged order and all associated files that may have been storedby the electronic printing system 80 (Step 120). After the staged orderhas been retrieved by the process server 82 d, the files are backed up(Step 121) and printer facility information may be added to the stagedorder (Step 122). This information may be determined at the time theuser is designing the custom print order. After adding the printerfacility information to the order, the process server 82 d may splitorders, for example, by printer facility (Step 123).

[0124] Once a print order has been completed by the process server 82 d,the process server 82 d may modify the order in preparation forconversion of the design files to an image file (Step 124). For example,all non-printable information may be removed from the design files. Theprocess server 82 d may then determine product and printer facilityinformation from the order file (Step 125), and parse the design filesinto an image file, such as an EPS file (Step 126), that may be utilizedby a printer facility. The image file could be of any image-type format.

[0125] Both spot printing plates and CMYK printing plates may be definedin the image file, among other printing plate designations, such ascomposite spot printing plates, etc. Spot printing plates utilize ablack background printing plate to which different color ink may beadded in order to create a print. For example, in the case of a printorder in which a business card having a green ink color portion thereonmay be defined in a design files, the image file may specify a blackbackground plate and a green ink preference or may be defined on asecondary information file. CMYK printing plates may use four separateplates, cyan, magenta, yellow and black, or a composite plate for fullcolor printing. Process color printing information, such as CMYKinformation, RGB (red, green, blue) information, or other colorinformation where each color is represented as a separate printingplate. Process color printing information may be represented in separateprinting plates or as a composite plate. This information may bespecified in the image file.

[0126] Depending upon the product ordered by a user and/or thedesignated printer facility, the process server 82 d may retrieve anorder number associated with the order request and may create a printerspecific file associated with the information that may not be includedin the converted image file, such as product, paper color, media type,etc (Step 127). Printer specific files may include printer facilityspecific information, such as attributes and the like.

[0127] The process server 82 d may then add the user information to auser database(s) 84 (Step 128) and may update an order database(s) 84with the user order information (Step 129). The process server 82 d maythen backup all the printer specific files (Step 130) and compress them,such as by zipping the printer files, and copy the compressed files toan appropriate location so that the compressed files may be downloadedby a remote or local printer facility (Step 131) or stage to an EDIserver on an order by order basis. The printer specific files mayinclude printer identification information, or printer specificinventory codes, such as product information codes, ink color codes,quantity information codes, etc. The process server 82 d may alsoinclude a backend module for tracking order ship status and fornotifying customers of shipped orders. Operation of the integratedshopping cart system will now be described in the context of beingintegrated with an electronic printing system.

[0128]FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the operation flow of theintegrated shopping cart system 30 of the invention. Indicated in eachblock of the flowchart is an action performed by the system in responseto a request by a user, together with the server responsible forperforming the requested action.

[0129] As shown in FIG. 11, a user at the first website may choose toselect a product from an affiliated website (Step 140). Thus, the usermay, for example, select a URL link on the first website to navigate toan affiliated website in order to select a product, such as to create acustom design item from the affiliated website.

[0130] An integrated shopping cart session may be initiated between thefirst server 31 and the affiliated website server 31 n, for example byactivating the session initiation software sub-module 51 of theintegrated shopping cart system software module 50. After a session hasbeen initiated, a user may choose to select a custom design item fromthe affiliated website (Step 141). The custom design item may includeprint information as well as non-print information. For example, thecustom design item may include non-printable items where no customdesign work is involved in creating the item (i.e., using a defaulttemplate).

[0131] After selecting a product for custom design, the user may thendesign a custom print design, as described above and may modify thecustom print design until acceptable by the user (Step 142). The usermay then choose to add the designed item to the user's shopping cart atthe first website (Step 143).

[0132] After adding the designed item to the shopping cart, the user maychoose to modify a product already in the shopping cart (Step 144 a) ormay choose to create another product (Step 144 b). In either case, theuser may create and/or modify a custom print design until acceptable bythe user (Step 142). The user may then choose to add the designed itemto the user's shopping cart at the first website (Step 143).

[0133] When the user has completed a shopping cart selection and isready to complete an order, the user, at the first website, may chooseto fulfill an order request (Step 145). Upon a user choosing to fulfillan order request, the affiliated website server 31 n from which an itemhas been selected by a user may be notified of the user's request tofulfill an order (Step 146). Upon the affiliated website fulfilling anorder, the affiliated website may notify the first website and/or theuser, of the fulfillment of an order, such as the shipping of the order(Step 147).

[0134]FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the operation flow of analternative embodiment of the integrated shopping cart system 30 of theinvention in which order fulfillment of an uploaded item, or an itemselection item that may be resident on the first website itself, may beperformed by the system 30. Indicated in each block of the flowchart isan action performed by the system in response to a request by a user,together with the server responsible for performing the requestedaction.

[0135] As shown in FIG. 12, a user at the first website may choose toupload an item, for example, a data file representing an object to beadded to the shopping cart, or select from an item existing at the firstwebsite to be added to the shopping cart at the first website (Step150). When the user is ready to complete a shopping cart order, theuser, at the first website, may choose to fulfill an order request (Step151). An integrated shopping cart session may then be initiated betweenthe first server 31 and the affiliated website server 31 n, for exampleby activating the session initiation software sub-module 51 of theintegrated shopping cart system software module 50 (Step 152). Upon auser choosing to fulfill an order request, an affiliated website server31 n which may be configured to perform a specified function, such asprinting or otherwise processing the uploaded data file or the selecteditem, may be notified of the user's request to fulfill an order (Step153). Upon the affiliated website fulfilling an order, the affiliatedwebsite may notify the first website and/or the user, of the fulfillmentof an order, such as the shipping of the order (Step 154).

[0136]FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of theintegrated shopping cart system in accordance with the invention. A useraccessing a first website 160 (hosted, for example, by a first server)may be presented with a dynamic link, such as a URL link, to anaffiliated website 162 (hosted, for example, by an affiliated server incommunication with the first server). The first website 160 may includean electronic shopping cart software application for facilitatingcommercial transactions between the user and any of the first website160 or affiliated websites 162 so that the user can purchase productsand/or services provided by any of the proprietors of the websites.

[0137] As described above, in accordance with the invention, a user mayaccess an affiliated website and may select products and/or services forpurchase from the affiliated website 162. As shown in FIG. 13, upon auser accessing an affiliated website 162 the first server 31 maytransmit an initiate message 164 to the affiliated server 31 n toinitiate a communication session with the first server 31. When asession has been initiated between the first server 31 and theaffiliated server 31 n, a user accessing an affiliated website 162(hosted by the affiliated server 31 n, for example) may select productsand/or services for purchase from the affiliated website 162.

[0138] Upon a user selecting a particular product and/or service fromthe affiliated website 162 for purchase, the affiliated server 31 n maytransmit an add-to-cart message 166 to the first server 31 indicating tothe first server 31 to reflect the user's selection in a shopping cartorder maintained by the first server 31. Therefore, a user accessing anaffiliated website 162 can select products and/or services for purchasefrom the affiliated website 162 and the selected items can be maintainedin a shopping cart order by the first server 31 and displayed to theuser accessing the first website 160.

[0139] A user, after selecting items for purchase from an affiliatedwebsite 162, may choose to place an order for any or all of the itemsindicated in the user's shopping cart order maintained by the firstserver 31. Upon placing a request for an order 168, the first server 31may implement its own commercial functionality to properly process theorder. In processing the order by the first server 31, order processingand order fulfillment of products and/or services selected for purchasefrom an affiliated website 162 may be performed by the affiliatedwebsite server 31 n. For example, the first server 31 may transmit anorder fulfillment request message 170 to the affiliated server 31 nrequesting the affiliated server 31 n to perform its own orderfulfillment processing, such as producing and shipping 172 a selecteditem. After shipping the selected item, the affiliated server 31 n maytransmit a ship notification message 174 to the first server 31 alertingthe first server 31 that the affiliated server 31 n has properlyprocessed and shipped the order. The first server 31 may then properlynotify 176 the user that the order has been successfully processed andshipped.

[0140] Thus, in accordance with the invention, integrated shopping cartfunctionality is provided on a first website so that products/servicesfrom different affiliated websites (or even uploaded data files from auser) can be integrated into the shopping cart at the first website andthe e-commerce functionality of the first website can be utilized topurchase the selected products/services (or otherwise process theuploaded data files).

[0141] Advantageously, the first website is benefited by this integratedshopping cart functionality in that an increased number of users mayaccess the first website since the proprietor of the first website mayoffer various products/services from a multitude of different affiliatedwebsites, for example by providing URL links to the affiliated websitesthat a user may access in order to select items from the affiliatedwebsites. These items can be integrated into the shopping cart at thefirst website and purchased with a single transaction. Increased usertraffic is expected since a user's shopping interests can be fulfilledat a single website.

[0142] Additionally, affiliated websites are benefited by thisintegrated shopping cart functionality since the e-commercefunctionality of the integrated shopping cart is performed by a serverthat is associated with the first website. Therefore, affiliatedwebsites need not include their own e-commerce functionality. Instead,they may take advantage of the e-commerce functionality of the firstwebsite and still receive the benefits of the sale of their offeredproducts/services to the user. Maintenance costs and overhead costs withrespect to including an e-commerce software engine are therefore reducedand often eliminated as a result.

[0143] While the foregoing has been described with reference toparticular embodiments of the invention, such as an integrated shoppingcart system, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art thatchanges in these embodiments may be made without departing from theprinciples and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic shopping cart system integratedwith a computer network connecting a plurality of servers together, thecomputer network being accessible by a user, comprising: a first serverassociated with a first website, the first server including a shoppingcart application configured to maintain a shopping cart order of itemsselected by a user from a plurality of affiliated websites, and acatalog application adapted to receive item information relating to theitems that can be selected by the user from the plurality of affiliatedwebsites, the first server being configured to process the shopping cartorder and to provide order fulfillment information to the affiliatedwebsites from which the items were selected by the user; and a pluralityof affiliated servers associated with the plurality of affiliatedwebsites, each of the affiliated servers including a respective catalogof item information relating to the items that can be selected from therespective affiliated websites, the plurality of affiliated serversbeing adapted to provide the respective catalogs of item information tothe first server and to receive and process the order fulfillmentinformation from the first server.
 2. The integrated shopping cartsystem of claim 1, wherein the computer network is the World Wide Web.3. The integrated shopping cart system of claim 1, wherein the itemsinclude products and services.
 4. The integrated shopping cart system ofclaim 1, wherein the item information includes any of itemidentification information, cost information, and descriptioninformation.
 5. The integrated shopping cart system of claim 1, whereinthe order fulfillment information includes any of item identificationinformation and shipping information.
 6. An electronic shopping cartsystem integrated with a computer network connecting a plurality ofservers together, the computer network being accessible by a user,comprising: a server associated with a first website, the serverincluding a shopping cart application configured to maintain a shoppingcart order of items selected by a user from a plurality of affiliatedwebsites, and a catalog application adapted to receive item informationrelating to the items that can be selected by the user from theplurality of affiliated websites, the server being configured to processthe shopping cart order and to provide order fulfillment information tothe affiliated websites from which the items were selected by the user.7. The integrated shopping cart system of claim 6, wherein the computernetwork is the World Wide Web.
 8. The integrated electronic shoppingcart system of claim 6, wherein the items include products and services.9. The integrated electronic shopping cart system of claim 6, whereinthe item information includes any of item identification information,cost information, and description information.
 10. The integratedshopping cart system of claim 6, wherein the order fulfillmentinformation includes any of item identification information and shippinginformation.
 11. An electronic shopping cart system integrated with acomputer network connecting a plurality of servers together, thecomputer network being accessible by a user, comprising: a plurality ofaffiliated servers associated with a like plurality of affiliatedwebsites, each of the affiliated servers including a respective catalogof item information relating to items that can be selected from therespective affiliated websites, the plurality of affiliated serversbeing adapted to provide the respective catalogs of item information toa first website, each of the affiliated servers being configured toreceive order fulfillment information from the first website and toprocess the order fulfillment information.
 12. The integrated shoppingcart system of claim 11, wherein the computer network is the World WideWeb.
 13. The integrated electronic shopping cart system of claim 11,wherein the items include products and services.
 14. The integratedelectronic shopping cart system of claim 11, wherein the iteminformation includes any of item identification information, costinformation, and description information.
 15. The integrated electronicshopping cart system of claim 11, wherein the order fulfillmentinformation includes any of item identification information and shippinginformation.
 16. An integrated shopping cart software application,comprising: a session initiation software module for establishing acommunication session between a first server associated with a firstwebsite and an affiliated server associated with an affiliated websitewithin a computer network so that a catalog of item information relatingto items that can be selected from the affiliated website that ismaintained by the affiliated server is accessible by the first serverpermitting the selecting of an item from the affiliated website; an additem software module for informing the first server of the selecting ofan item from the affiliated website so that a shopping cart ordermaintained by the first server is updated to include the selected itemfrom the affiliated website; an order fulfillment software module fortransmitting order fulfillment information to the affiliated server andrequesting the affiliated server to process the transmitted orderfulfillment information to fulfill a portion of the shopping cart order;and an error determination software module for managing errorinformation occurring in the communication session between the firstserver and the affiliated server.
 17. The integrated shopping cartsoftware application of claim 16, wherein the session initiationsoftware module permits the first server to transmit request informationto the additional server system.
 18. The integrated shopping cartsoftware application of claim 17, wherein the request information istransmitted by a communication protocol.
 19. The integrated shoppingcart software application of claim 18, wherein the communicationprotocol includes any of FTP, e-mail, HTTP and HTTPS communicationprotocols.
 20. The integrated shopping cart software application ofclaim 17, wherein the request information includes any of vendoridentifier information for identifying the first server, productidentifier information for identifying an item from the catalog of iteminformation and session identifier information for maintainingcommunication session information between the first server and theaffiliated server.
 21. The integrated shopping cart software applicationof claim 16, wherein the add item software module permits the additionalserver system to transmit item information relating to a particular itemselected from the catalog of item information to the first server sothat the selected item is added to the shopping cart order maintained bythe first server.
 22. The integrated shopping cart software applicationof claim 21, wherein the item information is transmitted as an XMLmessage.
 23. The integrated shopping cart software application of claim21, wherein the item information includes any of reference parameterinformation for identifying the selected item, line item numberinformation for indicating a location in the shopping cart order atwhich the selected item is located, the quantity of the item selected,the weight of the selected item, inventory number information relatingto the selected item, line item description information for associatinga description of the selected item, price information of the selecteditem, session identifier information, and user identifier information.24. The integrated shopping cart software application of claim 21,wherein an acknowledgement message is transmitted from the first serverto the affiliated server upon the first server receiving the iteminformation from the affiliated server.
 25. The integrated shopping cartsoftware application of claim 16, wherein the order fulfillment softwaremodule permits the first server to transmit request information to theaffiliated server so that the affiliated server can fulfill a portion ofthe shopping cart order.
 26. The integrated shopping cart softwareapplication of claim 25, wherein the request information is transmittedas an XML message.
 27. The integrated shopping cart software applicationof claim 25, wherein the request information includes any of shippinginformation, vendor identifier information, reference parameterinformation, line item information and session identifier information.28. The integrated shopping cart software application of claim 27,wherein the request information further includes any of tax information,distribution information, payment information, and cost centerinformation.
 29. The integrated shopping cart software application ofclaim 27, wherein the shipping information includes any of shippingaddress information, contact information, shipping company informationand shipping method information.
 30. The integrated shopping cartsoftware application of claim 25, wherein an acknowledgement message istransmitted from the affiliated server to the first server upon theaffiliated server receiving the request information from the firstserver.
 31. The integrated shopping cart software application of claim16, further comprising a shipping price software module for informingthe first server of the shipping price of the item selected from theaffiliated website.
 32. The integrated shopping cart softwareapplication of claim 31, wherein the shipping price software modulepermits the first server to transmit shipping price request informationto the affiliated server.
 33. The integrated shopping cart softwareapplication of claim 32, wherein the request information is transmittedas an XML message.
 34. The integrated shopping cart software applicationof claim 32, wherein the shipping price request information includes anyof item information and shipping information.
 35. The integratedshopping cart software application of claim 32, wherein anacknowledgement message is transmitted from the affiliated server to thefirst server upon the affiliated server receiving the requestinformation from the first server.
 36. The integrated shopping cartsoftware application of claim 16, wherein order fulfillment notificationinformation is transmitted as an XML message.
 37. The integratedshopping cart software application of claim 36, wherein orderfulfillment notification information includes any of line iteminformation, reference parameter information, tracking informationrelating to a shipped item and session identifier information.
 38. Theintegrated shopping cart software application of claim 36, wherein anacknowledgement message is transmitted from the first server to theaffiliated server upon the first server receiving the notificationinformation from the affiliated server.
 39. The integrated shopping cartsoftware application of claim 16, wherein the error determinationsoftware module permits the transmission of an error message to thefirst server.
 40. The integrated shopping cart software application ofclaim 16, further comprising a ship notification software module forinforming the first server of the fulfillment of a portion of theshopping cart order.
 41. The integrated shopping cart softwareapplication of claim 16, further comprising a select-another-itemsoftware module for informing the first server of selecting another itemfrom the affiliated website so that the selected item from theaffiliated website can be added to the shopping cart order maintained bythe first server.
 42. The integrated shopping cart software applicationof claim 41, wherein the select-another-item software module permits thefirst server system to transmit request information to the additionalserver system.
 43. The integrated shopping cart software application ofclaim 42, wherein the request information is by a communicationprotocol.
 44. The integrated shopping cart software application of claim43, wherein the communication protocol includes any of HTTP, HTTPS, FTPand e-mail.
 45. The integrated shopping cart software application ofclaim 41, wherein the request information includes any of vendoridentifier information, reference parameter information, actioninformation, session identifier information and line item numberinformation.
 46. The integrated shopping cart software application ofclaim 16, further comprising a modify item software module for informingthe affiliated server system of a request to modify a selected itemindicated in the shopping cart order maintained by the first server. 47.The integrated shopping cart software application of claim 45, whereinthe request information is transmitted by a communication protocol. 48.The integrated shopping cart software application of claim 47, whereinthe communication protocol includes any of HTTP, HTTPS, FTP and e-mail.49. The integrated shopping cart software application of claim 45,wherein the request information includes a ny of vendor identifierinformation, line item number information and session identifierinformation.
 50. The integrated shopping cart software application ofclaim 16, further comprising a reorder software module for informing thefirst server of selecting a previously selected item from the affiliatedwebsite so that the previously selected item can be added to theshopping cart order maintained by the first server.
 51. The integratedshopping cart software application of claim 50, wherein the reordersoftware module permits the first server to transmit request informationto the affiliated server.
 52. The integrated shopping cart softwareapplication of claim 51, wherein the request information is transmittedby a communication protocol.
 53. The integrated shopping cart softwareapplication of claim 52, wherein the communication protocol includes anyof HTTP, HTTPS, FTP and e-mail.
 54. The integrated shopping cartsoftware application of claim 51, wherein the request informationincludes any of vendor identifier information, reference parameterinformation, line item number information and session identifierinformation.
 55. The integrated shopping cart software application ofclaim 16, further comprising a view design software module for viewingan image of a design item created at the affiliated website.
 56. Theintegrated shopping cart software application of claim 55, wherein theview design software module permits the first server to transmit requestinformation to the affiliated server.
 57. The integrated shopping cartsoftware application of claim 55, wherein the request information istransmitted by a communication protocol.
 58. The integrated shoppingcart software application of claim 57, wherein the communicationprotocol includes any of HTTP, HTTPS, FTP and e-mail.
 59. The integratedshopping cart software application of claim 56, wherein the requestinformation includes any of vendor identifier information, referenceparameter information, line item number information, zoom factorinformation and session identifier information.
 60. The integratedshopping cart software application of claim 16, further comprising acreate another product software module for informing the affiliatedserver of creating a custom design item.
 61. The integrated shoppingcart software application of claim 60, wherein the create anotherproduct software module permits the first server to transmit requestinformation to the affiliated server.
 62. The integrated shopping cartsoftware application of claim 61, wherein the request information istransmitted by a communication protocol.
 63. The integrated shoppingcart software application of claim 62, wherein the communicationprotocol includes any of HTTP, HTTPS, FTP and e-mail.
 64. The integratedshopping cart software application of claim 61, wherein the requestinformation includes any of vendor identifier information, referenceparameter information, line item number information, product identifierinformation for indicating a particular design item template to provideto facilitate the creating of another product, and session identifierinformation.
 65. The integrated shopping cart software application ofclaim 16, further comprising a save design software module for informingthe first server of a saved design item on the affiliated server. 66.The integrated shopping cart software application of claim 65, whereinthe saved design item includes any of custom design items, non-customdesign items, and non-printable items.
 67. The integrated shopping cartsoftware application of claim 65, wherein the save design softwaremodule permits the affiliated server to transmit request information tothe first server.
 68. The integrated shopping cart software applicationof claim 67, wherein the request information is transmitted as an XMLmessage.
 69. The integrated shopping cart software application of claim67, wherein the request information includes any of reference parameterinformation, line item information and item description information. 70.The integrated shopping cart software application of claim 67, whereinan acknowledgement message is transmitted from the first server to theaffiliated server upon the first server receiving the saved designnotification information from the affiliated server.
 71. The integratedshopping cart software application of claim 16, further comprising anorder placement software module for informing the affiliated server tofulfill an order for an item selected from a different affiliatedwebsite.
 72. The integrated shopping cart software application of claim71, wherein the order placement software module permits the first serverto transmit request information to the affiliated server.
 73. Theintegrated shopping cart software application of claim 72, wherein therequest information is transmitted as an XML message.
 74. The integratedshopping cart software application of claim 72, wherein the requestinformation includes any of vendor identifier information, referenceparameter information, line item information and shipping information.75. The integrated shopping cart software application of claim 16,further comprising a reorder fulfillment software module for informingthe affiliated server of the fulfilling of an item in the shopping cartorder that was previously fulfilled by the affiliated server.
 76. Theintegrated shopping cart software application of claim 75, wherein thereorder fulfillment software module permits the first server to transmitrequest information to the affiliated server.
 77. The integratedshopping cart software application of claim 76, wherein the requestinformation is transmitted as an XML message.
 78. The integratedshopping cart software application of claim 76, wherein the requestinformation includes any of shipping information, vendor identifierinformation, reference parameter information, and line item information.79. A method for incorporating integrated shopping cart functionality ina computer network, comprising the steps of: installing an integratedshopping cart testing software toolkit, having a plurality of testmodules incorporated therein, on an affiliated server associated with anaffiliated website; accessing the affiliated server by a first serverand activating the integrated shopping cart testing software toolkit totest the functionality of the plurality of test modules incorporatedtherein; testing the functionality of the plurality of test modules bytransmitting parameter information from the first server to theaffiliated server; indicating the status of transmitting the parameterinformation to reflect the result of a communication between the firstserver and the affiliated server; and in the event of a failedcommunication between the first server and the affiliated server,re-configuring the affiliated server and re-testing the functionality ofthe plurality of test modules until each of the test modules aresuccessfully tested.
 80. The method of claim 79, wherein the pluralityof test modules includes a respective test module associated with arespective module of an integrated shopping cart software application.81. The method of claim 79, wherein the parameter information istransmitted by any of the HTTPS, HTTP, FTP and e-mail communicationprotocols.
 82. An integrated electronic shopping cart system,comprising: a first server system connected with a computer networkincluding at least one client computer system, the first server systembeing associated with a first website and including a shopping cartapplication configured to maintain a shopping cart order of itemsselected by a user from an affiliated website, and a catalog applicationadapted to receive item information relating to the items that can beselected by the user from the affiliated website, the first serversystem being configured to process the shopping cart order and toprovide order fulfillment information to the affiliated website; anaffiliated server system associated with the affiliated website andincluding a respective catalog of item information relating to the itemsthat can be selected from the affiliated website, the affiliated serversystem being adapted to provide the catalog of item information to thefirst server system and to receive and process the order fulfillmentinformation from the first server system, the affiliated server systemfurther including at least one server system configured to communicatewith at least one client system; at least one image server systemconfigured to receive custom print information, including custom printdesign item information, from the client system and to provide thecustom print design item information to the at least one server systemso that the custom print design item information can be dynamicallydisplayed to the at least one client system to indicate any modificationto the custom print design item information; at least one file serversystem configured to store the custom print information; and at leastone process server system configured to format the custom printinformation and to generate a print order; each of the at least oneserver system, at least one image server system, at least one fileserver system and at least one process server system being incommunication with each other so that custom print information can beprovided between them; and at least one printing facility incommunication with the affiliated server, the at least one printingfacility configured to receive the formatted custom print informationfrom the affiliated server and to process the print order in accordancewith the custom print information.
 83. The integrated electronicshopping cart system of claim 82, wherein the custom print informationincludes any of graphical information, audio-visual information, imageinformation and textual information.
 84. The integrated electronicshopping cart system of claim 82, wherein the custom print informationis provided from a client system in communication with the affiliatedserver system.
 85. The integrated electronic shopping cart system ofclaim 82, wherein the custom print information is included in at leastone design file that describes the layout of a custom print design itemassociated with the custom print information.
 86. The integratedelectronic shopping cart system of claim 85, wherein the at least onedesign file further describes non-print items associated with the customprint information.
 87. The integrated electronic shopping cart system ofclaim 85, wherein the layout of the custom print design item describedin the design file is updated to indicate any modification to the customprint design item information.
 88. The integrated electronic shoppingcart system of claim 87, wherein the modified custom print design iteminformation is displayed in real-time.
 89. The integrated electronicshopping cart system of claim 82, wherein the custom print design iteminformation is modified in accordance with a predetermined ruleset for aselected print medium.
 90. The electronic shopping cart system of claim82, wherein the custom print information is formatted into a format thatis recognizable by the at least one printing facility.